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October 31, 2005 at 2:44pm
by Ian According to US-based OCLC worldwide survey of books held in libraries – ie ranked acording to the library purchasing vote, as they put it. [Thanks to Georganna for the link.]
Bible, Quran, Bhagavad Gita and Tao Te Ching all near the top, and the top 100 stuffed with Shakespeare, but the whole 1000 makes an interesting catalogue of books and authors we should presumably know. I see Pirsig‘s ZMM makes it at No. 910, whereas neither Wilber nor Campbell are in there. Baum’s Wizard of Oz up there with Plato’s Republic. Some odd modern popular numbers in there with the classics.
Although they don’t go so far as to comment on significant omissions, Georganna points out that the Factoids page, and the the comparisons with other lists, also make interesting reading.
5 Comments
#1. Sam 11.01.2005
Wilber’s not included!! Perhaps I shouldn’t despair about our civilisation so much after all
)
#2. Ian 11.01.2005
Hi Sam,
With my positive slant on most things I have to say I find Wilber uninspiring, but pretty inoffensive, but then I’ve only read the one title – blogged in that longer post about “americans”.
Ian
#3. Sam 11.02.2005
Perhaps it’s a legacy of my arguments with DMB… how do I find your review?
BTW have you come across this site: – rather good at skewering waffle, in an entertaining manner.
#4. Ian 11.02.2005
Hey Sam, no I’ve not seen that blog. Made me laugh already. Looks promising.
My “review” of Wilber is just a paragraph embedded in this post …
http://www.psybertron.org/?p=1129
Which includes a reference to you too.
Ian
#5. Ian 11.02.2005
Aha, Sam,
I just realised Mystic Bourgeoisie is Christopher Locke.
I’m a big fan of the Cluetrain Manifesto, which he co-wrote.
No wonder I like it. (Love the SWIKI evolving search facility too.)
Ian
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